¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters^(A) and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.^{(B) 17} As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives!^(C) Don’t look back,^(D) and don’t stop anywhere in the plain!^(E) Flee to the mountains^(F) or you will be swept away!”

¹⁸ But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,^[a] please!